Display rack



Dec. 4, 1928. v 1,694,207

B. COLEMAN DISPLAY RACK Filed March 5. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l /7 y/ I 22Qzm i.

I Cale/72a,

Dec. 4, 1928. 1,694,207

v B. COLEMAN A IsPLAY RACK Filed March 5. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,7 Jim?.

- B. Cale/72am r amg Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES Parser ori-ics BERT COLEMAN, OF PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA.

DISPLAY RACK.

Application filed March 3, 1928.

playing articles in stores, and has more particular reference to animproved raclrotl this kind wherein provision is made by which thearticles may be readily placed in position and any one article removedwhen desired without disturbing the others.

A more specific object is toV provide an improved display rack forgarment-supporting belts and like articles, wherein holders are providedwhich embody sn'ing-pressed followers or presser members so arrangedthat, as'soon as one or a number of articles are withdrawn from theholders, the presser members will serve to eli'ectively hold thearticles remaining.

Another object is to provid-e holders which are readily adjustable toproperly accommodate articles of differenty widths.

Still another object is to provide al display rack et the above kind,which is simple and durable in construction, e'liicient in operation,adapted to be conveniently placed into practical. use, and economical tomanufacture,

Gther objects will become apparent as the nature oi the invention isbetter understood, and the same consists in the novel form, combinationand arrangement oi' parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in theaccompanying drawings and claimed.

ln the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation ot a display rack embodying' the presentinvention. Y

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view thereot, partly broken away andinsection.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation, showing one of the gates,for closing the fronts of the holder compartments, in open position.

Figure l is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 1 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the presser membersand its guide pin; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view ot one of the slides foradjusting the ettective width oi the holder compartments.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the form ot holder shownembodies a stand A, a frame B having a number of open-bottomedcompartments, and presser members C slidably fitted in the compartmentsor' said frame and each spring-pressed toward the front wall ot theassociated compartment to hold a number of belts or other articles andSerial No 258,801.

permit the latter Vto be suspended below the compartments.

The stand A consists ot a base 5 and a vertical post 6 of sutlicientstrength and length to carry at or near its upper end the frame Lsoy Bwith the articles suspended from said vtrame in the desired and easyaccess.

'The frame B has a number ot' compartments 7 tormedby vertical walls,andeach compartment is open at the top and bottom and has its oppositeside walls formed with horizontal guide grooves 8. At the center thetrame is formed or provided with a bearing 9 fitted to turn upon theupper end portion et the part 5. rllhe shape and size or' the positionfor exhibition `iframe and the number, size and arrangement of thecompartments therein may be varied according to the nature and quantityof the articles to be displayed and other conditions.

In a like manner, the frame may be supported in other ways than by astand.

The presser members C are slidably iittedj 1n the. several compartmentsot the frame B,

one to each compartment, and having reduced ends 10 slidably engaged inthe guide grooves 8. Each presser member consists of a bar or platehaving a central rigid guide pin ll projecting rearwardly therefrom andslidably projecting into a bore 12 provided in the frame at the rear otthe associated compartment, a. helical compression springl 13 beinginterposed between the pin and the frame, within the bore 12 and a borein the rear end of the pin, to torce the presser member toward the outeror front wall ot the associated compartment. The n presser members maythus befiiorced rearwardly or inwardly to permit the desired number ofarticles to be placed in the compartments outwardly therepartmentwithout disturbing the remaining articles in such compartment.

As shown, the frame B may be formed of a l series of substantiallysector-shaped platelilresections 14 rigidly connected with adjacentsideedges thereof contiguous, each sec-.

tion constituting a holder and having a single compartment 7 formed inits outer end. The

outer end ot' each compartment is preferably being provided toreleasably hold the gate closed where it formstheouterwall of thecompartment against which the articles are pressed. The compartment ofeach trame section is shown as formed by bifurcating or notching theouter end of the/frame section, the gate 15 being preferably hinged atone end to the frame section, as at 17. Stop pins 18 are provided in theouter end portions of the grooves 8 in the path of the ends of thelpresser mem; bers to limit outward movement of the latter and preventtheir displacement` from operative position when the gates are opened.

It very often happens that the articles to be displayed, such astrouser-supporting belts are o different Widths. Obviously, in order toproperly hold articles of different Widths in an orderly and efficientmanner Within any desired ones of the several compartments, the lattermust be adjustable as to ei'ective Width. For this purpose, slides 19are provided at opposite sides of each compartment, the slides beinglaterally adjustable toward each other inwardl of the side Walls ofthecompartment proper Vor adjustably narrowing the normal effective Widthof the latter, when desired.

lThese slides preferably consist of metal plates disposed on top oftheframe andhavingl transversely elongated slots 20 through whichclamping bolts 21 extend, the bolts 21 passing through the frame andhaving nuts 22 applied thereto for being tightened to secure the slidesin any desired position of adjustment. The slides have straightdepending langes 23 on their inner edges for flat engagement With theopposite edges of the articles as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the flangesterminating above the presser members to permit unhindered movement ofthe latter.

In use, each gate 15 is opened and the associated presser member isforced rearwardly,

whereupon the articles j are introduced through the gateway intothecompartment. The gate is then closed and latched in closed position,the presser member being released to clamp the articles againsttheclosed gate. The slides 19 are then adjusted against the side edges ofthe articles, if necessary, Whereupon the device is ready for displayingthe suspended articles. Any desired ones of the articles may then bereadily selected and withdrawn upwardly from the rack as occasion maydemand, without disturbing the remaining articles.

Various changes in minor details of construction and arrangement ofparts may be made Within the spirit and scope of the invention asclaimed.

lVhat I claim as new is:

1. In a .display rack, a frame member hav-- ing an open-bottomedcompartment, a presser member carried by the frame member and slidablymounted in said compartment for cooperation With the front Wall of thelatter to hold articles in suspension, spring means acting against saidpresser member for urging ittoward said front Wall of the compartment,means to adjust the effective width of said compartment embodyinglaterally adjustable slides mounted on the frame member at oppositesides of said compartment.

2. In a. display racl, a frame member having an openbottomedcompartment, a presser member carried by the frame member and slidablymounted in said compartment for cooperation with the front Wall ofthelatter to hold articles inl suspension, sllriner means acting againstsaid presser mem er Ier urging it toward said front Wall of thecompartment and a gate member forming the front Wall of said compartmentand adapted to be opened to facilitate insertion of the articles intothe compartment, said gate being hinged at one end to the frame member,and means to latch said gate in closed position.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature.

BERT COLEMAN.

